When I worked in a bookstore in my early twenties (my mother said it was the equivalent of putting an alcoholic behind a bar), this book was one we stocked. I worked in the tiny store inside an elite hotel alone and Nurnberg’s book was one I frequently thumbed through in between waiting on doctor’s wives looking for the latest bodice-ripper (true story).

No matter how well-educated one is, there are always a few words that, for some reason, just don’t stick.

6. protocol – a system by which a task is completed correctly
Example: Is there a protocol for parenting feral children?

7. fascist – a person who believes a dictator should be in control of a nation’s economic and social policies
Example: A: “You shouldn’t be trusted to take care of yourself.” B: “You fascist!”

8. sycophant – one who prostrates himself before and flatters another as a means to personal gain
Example: He thought I would go on a date with him if he told me how undeserving of my company he was — what a sycophant!

9. facetious – a remark or attitude characterized by insincerity and humorousness
Example: When he said that nobody likes a liar, I facetiously remarked that the guy who sets liars’ pants on fire probably likes them.

I looked over this list and none of these were among the words I have ever had trouble spelling or defining (but I truly find it hard to believe that “spongiform” is looked up all that often. Spell-check doesn’t even recognize it was a word, for cryin’ out loud).

I take umbrage with this list (go ahead… look up umbrage, I’ll wait. You think I spelled it wrongly, don’t you?). So I asked my mostly over-educated friends and universally-known big mouths to confess the words they always have to look up. Here are ten words with which we struggle (keep in mind, I’m from Texas) :

1. hemorrhoids – a mass of dilated veins in swollen tissue at the margin of the anus or nearby within the rectum

Example: “Bobby Don’s got the hemorrhoids again after sittin’ on the tractor all day.”

2. diarrhea – abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools

Example: “Durn it! The dog’s et the bacon grease and now he’s got the diarrhea.”

3. terrific- exciting or fit to excite fear or awe

Example: Terrific. We get to chaperon the high school dance.

4. scissors – a cutting instrument having two blades whose cutting edges slide past each other